Government of New Brunswick

Overview

Motor Vehicle Inspection stations, garages, and service stations are required to ensure that all motor vehicles meet required safety standards.

Eligibility

To qualify for a motor vehicle inspection station licence, applicants must:

Employ at least one mechanic who possesses a Certificate of Qualification, as issued by the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, in one of the following trades:

  • Motor Vehicle Repair (Mechanical)
  • Motor Vehicle Repair (Steering, Suspension and Brakes)
  • Motor Vehicle Repair (Truck & Transport)


  • Stations who are licensed to perform inspections under heavy vehicle classification must employ at least one mechanic who possesses a Certificate of Qualification in Motor Vehicle Repair (Truck & Transport).

    Each station must have sufficient internal space to accommodate the vehicle during its inspection, the certified mechanic, and all tools and equipment necessary to perform the inspection.

    The required fees must accompany all applications.

    A Motor Vehicle Inspector will perform a site visit to ensure that the site complies with standards.

    Description

    The Motor Vehicle Branch of the Department of Justice and Public Safety provides the licensing and supervision of inspection station outlets.

    A motor vehicle inspection is an inspection and mechanical examination of the body and associated components, the windshield and windows, the windshield wipers, the horn, the rearview mirror, the lights, the exhaust system, the brakes, the steering and suspension system, the wheels and tires, and the coupling system.

    An inspection of a bus, commercial vehicle or truck tractor with an unladen curb mass of 2250 kilograms or more or a semi-trailer, trailer or pole trailer with an assigned or configured gross mass of 4500 kilograms or more will include, in addition, an inspection and mechanical examination of the power train, the instruments and auxiliary equipment, the electrical system, the engine controls, the fuel system, and the mirrors.

    Commercial vehicles with an unladen curb mass of 3,500 kilograms or more must be inspected at least once every six months.

    The inspection must be made by a certified mechanic or under the direct supervision of a certified mechanic.

    The certified mechanic will certify as approved or rejected each vehicle for which an inspection has been completed by attaching a completed inspection sticker or certificate of rejection to the windshield of the vehicle.

    Fees charged to the public for vehicle inspections shall be only at the rate prescribed by the Motor Vehicle Act regulations.

    Changes To Fees

    This document provides the rationale supporting changes to fees, associated revenue information, and the legal authority:
    2020PSInspectionFeesEN.pdf,
    2015-04-01_PublicSafety_E.pdf

    Fees

    Unless otherwise specified, Fees exclude the harmonized sales tax (HST).

    Fee DescriptionRate in $Effective Date
    YYYY-MM-DD
    Inspection Stations
      Inspection Station Licence - First Year76.001998-01-01
      Inspection Station Licence, every following year (annual)38.001998-01-01
      Fee for Official Testing Station to Purchase Inspection Stickers (per sticker)10.002015-09-01
      Additional Official Vehicle Inspection Station Manuals 15.001998-01-01
    1998-01-01
    Inspection stations shall charge and collect from the owner of a vehicle on which an inspection has been completed, an inspection fee as follows:1998-01-01
      Passenger vehicle, station wagon, family motor coach and antique vehicle

    New vehicle - first inspection valid three years

    Used vehicle - every two years

    45.002020-01-01
      Taxi (valid for one year)35.002020-01-01
      Homemade trailers with assigned mass of less than 1499 kg (one- time inspection)25.002020-01-01
      Light commercial trucks and farm trucks with unladen curb mass of 3000 kg or less

    New Vehicle - first inspection valid three years

    Used Vehicle - every two years

    45.002020-01-01
      Heavy commercial and farm trucks - 3001 kg to 3499 kg unladen curb mass (annual inspection) 40.002015-09-01
      Heavy commercial trucks with unladen curb mass of 3500 kg or more (annual inspection) (max) 140.002015-09-01
      Trailers, semi-trailers or pole trailers with an assigned or configured gross vehicle mass of 1500 kg or more (annual inspection) 40.002015-09-01
    Bus, school bus or contracted conveyance 2015-09-01
      Up to 3499 kg unladen curb mass (semi-annual inspection) 40.002015-09-01
      3500 kg or more unladen curb mass (semi-annual inspection) 65.002015-09-01
    Farm Truck 2015-09-01
      with unladen curb mass of 3000 kg or less

    New Vehicle - first inspection valid three years

    Used Vehicle - every two years

    45.002020-01-01
      3500 kg or more unladen curb mass (per year)65.002015-09-01
    Replacement of Inspection Sticker11.002015-09-01
    Certificate of Rejection0.001998-01-01
    Contact Information Email Location
    Fredericton